Five Month Old Milestones: What to Expect

Five months is an in-between age—your baby is no longer a tiny newborn, but not quite a crawler yet. They're incredibly curious, increasingly mobile, and developing rapidly. Your baby is likely rolling, grabbing everything in sight, and exploring objects with intense concentration (and their mouth!).

This is a month of consolidating skills and preparing for the big milestones ahead, like sitting independently and starting solid foods. AAP

Major Developments at Five Months

Physical leaps: CDC

• Rolling both directions (or getting close)
• Excellent head control
• May sit briefly with support
• Reaches accurately for objects
• Strong push-ups on arms during tummy time

Growing curiosity:

• Fascinated by everything
• Explores objects thoroughly
• Puts everything in mouth
• Watches activities intently
• Recognizes familiar objects and people

Physical Development

Rolling: Mayo

• Most babies roll both ways by 5 months
• May roll repeatedly across the floor
• Uses rolling to get places
• Getting stronger at initiating rolls

Sitting:

• Sits well with support
• May tripod sit (hands on floor for balance)
• Core strength building
• Working toward independent sitting

Hands and fine motor:

• Accurate reaching
• Transfers objects between hands (beginning)
• Raking grasp to pick up small items
• Bangs, shakes, mouths everything
• Fascinated by own hands

Gross motor:

• Strong push-ups on extended arms
• May pivot or scoot on tummy
• Kicks strongly
• Bears full weight on legs when held

Cognitive Development

Exploration: AAP

• Intense focus on objects
• Turns objects to examine all sides
• Drops things deliberately (cause and effect)
• Shows interest in small details
• Beginning to understand object permanence

Memory:

• Recognizes familiar faces and objects
• Remembers favorite toys
• Anticipates routines
• May look for dropped toys (briefly)

Problem-solving:

• Works to reach distant objects
• Experiments with different actions on toys
• Learns from repetition
• Fascinated by how things work

Communication Development

Babbling: CDC

• Babbles long strings of sounds
• May combine consonants and vowels
• Makes sounds to get attention
• Imitates speech patterns (intonation)
• "Talks" during play

Understanding:

• Turns to voice
• Responds to name (emerging)
• Understands emotional tone
• Recognizes familiar words in context

Social communication:

• Initiates "conversations"
• Makes sounds to express feelings
• Uses gestures and sounds together
• Shows excitement when you approach

Social and Emotional Development

Attachment: AAP

• Very attached to primary caregivers
• May begin showing stranger wariness
• Seeks comfort from familiar people
• Shows preference clearly

Play:

• Enjoys interactive games
• Laughs at silly faces and sounds
• Likes peek-a-boo and action songs
• May enjoy watching other children

Emotions:

• Expresses wide range of emotions
• Shows frustration when can't reach things
• Delighted by play
• May be cautious in new situations

Sleep at Five Months

Patterns: NSF

• 12-15 hours total daily
• May sleep 6+ hour stretches at night
• Usually 2-3 naps
• More predictable schedule emerging

Sleep training:

• Some families begin sleep training around this age
• Baby is developmentally ready to learn independent sleep
• Many approaches available
• Discuss with pediatrician if interested

Feeding at Five Months

Milk feeds: AAP

• Still primarily breast milk or formula
• About 24-32 ounces formula daily
• Some babies show readiness signs for solids
• AAP recommends around 6 months for solids

Readiness signs for solids:

• Good head and neck control
• Sits with minimal support
• Shows interest in food
• Opens mouth when food approaches
• Lost tongue thrust reflex

Milestones Checklist

Most 5-month-olds: CDC

• Roll from tummy to back
• Reach for and grasp toys
• Bring objects to mouth
• Babble and make varied sounds
• Enjoy playing with caregivers
• Turn toward sounds
• Hold head steady
• Push up on arms during tummy time

Some 5-month-olds may:

• Roll both directions
• Sit briefly with support
• Transfer objects between hands
• Respond to name

Watch for:

• Not reaching for objects
• Doesn't seem to recognize caregivers
• Very stiff or very floppy
• Doesn't make sounds
• Doesn't respond to sounds
• Lost skills previously had

Supporting Development

Physical: Mayo

• Floor play for movement
• Tummy time continues
• Supported sitting practice
• Safe objects to reach and grab

Cognitive:

• Varied toys (different textures, sounds)
• Simple cause-and-effect toys
• Mirror play
• Time to explore objects

Communication:

• Talk throughout the day
• Narrate activities
• Read books together
• Sing songs
• Respond to babbles

Social:

• Face-to-face games
• Peek-a-boo and similar games
• Let baby initiate interaction
• Introduce to friendly family/friends

What's Coming Next

In the coming months:

• Independent sitting
• Starting solid foods
• Possible first tooth
• More purposeful movement toward objects
• Increased babbling
• Stronger stranger awareness

The Bottom Line

Five months is a busy time of skill-building and exploration. Your baby is increasingly mobile, curious, and communicative. This is an exciting transition period as they prepare for major milestones like sitting and starting solids.

Key milestones:

• Rolling both directions
• Reaching and grasping deliberately
• Sitting with support
• Babbling with varied sounds
• Intense curiosity about objects
• Strong social engagement

Clara is here to help you understand your five-month-old's development!